Gaming grant cut to Victoria anti-poverty group

The provincial government cut funding to the Together Against Poverty Society, according to a news release the Victoria non-profit agency released this afternoon.

The government cut $65,000 in community gaming grant money that TAPS would mainly have used for a tenant advocacy project that last year helped 1,000 people, the release said.

“What angers me is that TAPS actually fits the government’s criteria for these gaming grants perfectly,” it quoted board president Joan McHardy saying. “We are a human and social service agency; we support low-income and disabled British Columbians and we provide support to individuals and families at-risk of losing their housing.”

The release quoted reverend Alan Tysick, chair of the Downtown Service Providers, saying TAPS program often kept people from becoming homeless.

Housing and social development minister Rich Coleman said earlier in the week that gaming grants were cut to help reduce the provincial deficit.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.